Electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation

ABSTRACT

An electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation having features that support use at high frequencies without insulation breakdown and that provides increased efficiency of smoke evacuation during cutting and/or coagulation. The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation includes a circuit board contained within a heat shrinkable plastic sleeve that is seated on a planar platform.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims benefit of priority toU.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14/726,553 filed May 31,2015, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,687,292, which application is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil, and more specifically to an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation that is constructed and designedto support its use at a high frequency rating without insulationbreakdown. The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation ofthe present invention is also constructed and designed to providemaximum smoke evacuation during cutting and/or coagulation when usingthe electrosurgery handpiece/pencil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrosurgery handpieces/pencils that perform cutting and/orcoagulation while simultaneously evacuating smoke and/or debris from thesurgical site are well known in the art including electrosurgeryhandpieces/pencils with smoke evacuation that have telescopic memberswhich enable a user to extend the length of the handpiece/pencil.

The present invention is directed to an electrosurgery pencil/handpiecewith smoke evacuation having a streamlined design and construction whichincludes improved features and elements that enable use of theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil at high frequencies without insulationbreakdown and maximum smoke evacuation during cutting and/orcoagulation. The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationof the present invention provides increased protection to a user/surgeonand patient during use of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil andenhanced efficiency for smoke evacuation during use of theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an electrosurgery handpiece/pencilwith smoke evacuation that includes a hollow tubular handpiece memberhaving a first end and a second end, a planar platform located near atop of the hollow tubular handpiece member, an electrode positionedwithin the first end of the hollow tubular handpiece member, a circuitboard seated on the planar platform where the circuit board is containedwithin a heat shrinkable plastic sleeve that has been heat shrunk toconform to the circuit board, at least one wire for connecting thecircuit board to the electrode, an electrical cord containing one ormore insulated wires for connecting the circuit board to an energysource, and one or more depressable button members positioned above thecircuit board for enabling selective contact with the circuit board. Anyand all electrical connections to the circuit board may be covered witha nonconductive insulating material or insulator after encapsulating thecircuit board with the heat shrinkable plastic sleeve. In addition,prior to encapsulating the circuit board with the heat shrinkableplastic sleeve, a protective layer comprising a polyester film orplastic sheet may be used to cover the circuit board. This exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationof the present invention supports use of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil at high frequency ratings without insulation breakdownthereby providing a safer electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smokeevacuation for use by surgeons.

The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation of the presentinvention may further include a cover member which covers the circuitboard and the planar rectangular shaped platform near the top of thehollow tubular handpiece member and/or a swivel member that is connectedto the second end of the hollow tubular handpiece member such that theelectrical cord passes through it thereby enabling the electrical cordand any vacuum tube attached to the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil totwist or swivel freely thereby reducing drag or pulling down of thedistal end of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil when it is in use andbeing handled by a surgeon. The planar platform of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil may include a recessed area for retaining the circuitboard and the planar platform and the recessed area of the planarplatform may both be rectangular in shape.

The planar platform of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil may furtherinclude one or more channels for retaining one or more insulated wiresthat are connected to the circuit board. The electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil may farther comprise a nozzle member which retains theelectrode and which fits inside an interior of the first end of thehollow tubular handpiece member. The nozzle member includes a first afirst hollow tubular member, a second hollow tubular member having asmaller diameter than the first hollow tubular member, and a rib memberthat connects the first hollow tubular member to the second hollowtubular member in a manner such that the second hollow tubular member ispositioned and located completely outside of the first hollow tubularmember.

The second hollow tubular member may contain a slit along its length thefacilitate seating and retention of an end of an electrode. Theelectrode is not obstructed in any way and can rotate to facilitatecutting and/or coagulation of tissue regardless of position or location.The electrode can also easily be removed and replaced with other typesof electrodes. The rib member of the nozzle member may comprise agenerally triangular shape having at least one rounded edge thatconforms to the interior circumference of the hollow tubular handpiecemember and that fits adjacent to the interior of the first end of thehollow tubular handpiece member. The rounded edge of the generallytriangular shaped rib member has a length that is longer than thediameter of the second hollow tubular member of the nozzle member. Therib member of the nozzle member may also include a slot that is incommunication with an interior of the second hollow tubular member andthat retains a conductive member which is connected to the at least onewire of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil that is connected to thecircuit board. The electrode of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil isseated within the second hollow tubular member of the nozzle member. Thenozzle member described above assists in providing maximum smokeevacuation with minimal obstruction during cutting and/or coagulationusing electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation of thepresent invention.

The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention may alsoinclude a first opening that traverses through the planar platform andinto the interior of the hollow tubular handpiece member that is locatednear the first end of the hollow tubular handpiece member to enable theat least one wire connecting the circuit board to the electrode to passtherethrough. The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the presentinvention may also include a second opening that traverses through theplanar platform and into the interior of the hollow tubular handpiecemember that is located near the second end of the hollow tubularhandpiece member to enable the electrical cord containing one or moreinsulated wires for connecting the circuit board to an energy source topass therethrough. The first and second openings in the planar platformof the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention alsoassist in providing maximum smoke evacuation with minimal obstructionduring cutting and/or coagulation using the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil of the present invention by limiting exposure of theelectrical components and connections required for operating theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil to the interior of the hollow tubularhandpiece member through which smoke and debris must pass duringevacuation.

The one or more insulated wires that connect the circuit board to anenergy source may include three insulated wires with one of theinsulated wires being grounded. In addition, the one or more depressablebutton members on the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smokeevacuation of the present invention may include one depressable buttonfor performing cutting and one depressable button for performingcoagulation.

In another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencilwith smoke evacuation of the present invention, the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation includes a hollow tubularhandpiece member having a first end and a second end, a planar platformlocated near a top of the hollow tubular handpiece member having a firstopening into the hollow tubular handpiece member located near the firstend of the hollow tubular handpiece member and a second opening into theinterior of the hollow tubular handpiece member located near the secondend of the hollow tubular handpiece member, an electrode positionedwithin the first end of the hollow tubular handpiece member, a circuitboard seated on the planar platform, at least one wire traversingthrough the first opening that connects the circuit hoard to theelectrode, an electrical cord containing one or more insulated wirestraversing through the second opening which connects the circuit boardto an energy source, and one or more depressable button memberspositioned above the circuit board for enabling selective contact withthe circuit board. As previously explained above, this exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationof the present invention assists in providing maximum smoke evacuationwith minimal obstruction during cutting and/or coagulation using theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention by limitingexposure of the electrical components and connections required foroperating the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil to the interior of thehollow tubular handpiece member through which smoke and debris must passduring evacuation.

The nozzle member described above could also be included with thisexemplary embodiment and would further assist in providing maximum smokeevacuation with minimal obstruction during cutting and/or coagulationdue to the configuration of the nozzle. Further, encapsulating thecircuit board with a beat shrinkable sleeve as described above couldalso be included with this exemplary embodiment to provide a saferinstrument capable of use at high frequency ratings without insulationfailure.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation of the present invention, theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation includes a hollowtubular handpiece member having a first end and a second end, a planarplatform located near a top of the hollow tubular handpiece member, anozzle member connected to an interior of the first end of hollowtubular handpiece member where the nozzle member includes a first hollowtubular member, a second hollow tubular member having a smaller diameterthan the first hollow tubular member, and a rib member connecting thefirst hollow tubular member to the second hollow tubular member suchthat the second hollow tubular member is positioned completely outsideof the first hollow tubular member, an electrode positioned within thesecond hollow tubular member of the nozzle member, a circuit boardseated on the planar platform, at least one wire for connecting thecircuit board to the electrode, an electrical cord containing one ormore insulated wires for connecting the circuit board to an energysource, and one or more depressable button members positioned above thecircuit board for enabling selective contact with the circuit board.

The first and second openings in the planar platform described abovethat traverse through the planar platform and into the hollow tubularhandpiece member could also be included with this exemplary embodimentand would further assist in providing maximum smoke evacuation withminimal obstruction during cutting and/or coagulation using theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil of the present invention by limitingexposure of the electrical components and connections required foroperating the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil to the interior of thehollow tubular handpiece member through which smoke and debris must passduring evacuation. Further, encapsulating the circuit board with a heatshrinkable sleeve as described above could also be included with thisexemplary embodiment to provide a safer instrument capable of use athigh frequency ratings without insulation failure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction withthe appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals demote likeelements, and

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top open plan view of the exemplary embodiment of theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hollow tubular handpiece member andplanar platform of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hollow tubularhandpiece member and planar platform of the exemplary embodiment of theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a to plan view of the hollow tubular handpiece member andplanar platform of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line F-F of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the nozzle member of the exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a side plan view of the nozzle member of the exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationshown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the nozzle member of the exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationof the present invention taken along line A-A of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle member of the exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationof the present invention taken along B-B of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the circuit board of the exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuationof the present invention depicted in FIG. 1 shown with a heat shrinkableplastic sleeve that has been heat shrunk to conform to the circuitboard;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the circuit contained on the circuit board ofthe exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil withsmoke evacuation of the present invention shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of an area of the circuit board shown in FIG.14 which shows the metal dome members and the spacer that are positionedover a portion of the circuit that correlates to the cutting andcoagulation functions of the circuit; and

FIG. 17 is to cross-sectional view of a portion of the circuit boardthat includes one of the metal dome members prior to the circuit boardbeing encapsulated with a heat shrinkable sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation of the presentinvention provides exemplary embodiments of an electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation that enables use at highfrequency ratings without insulation breakdown and that increasesefficiency of smoke evacuation during cutting and/or coagulation. FIG. 1shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation 10 of the presentinvention while FIGS. 2 and 3 show a longitudinal cross-sectional viewof the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece pencil withsmoke evacuation 10 shown in FIG. 1 and a top open plan view of theexemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smokeevacuation 10 shown in FIG. 1, respectively. Electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil 10 includes a hollow tubular handpiece member 12 havinga first end 14 and a second end 16, a planar platform 18 located near atop of the hollow tubular handpiece member 12, an electrode 20positioned within the first end 14 of the hollow tubular handpiecemember 12, a circuit hoard 22 seated on the planar platform 18 where thecircuit board 22 is contained within a heat shrinkable plastic sleeve 23that has been heat shrunk to conform to the circuit board (See FIG. 14),at least one wire 24 for connecting the circuit board 22 to theelectrode 20, an electrical cord 26 containing one or more insulatedwires 28 for connecting the circuit hoard 22 to an energy source (notshown), and one or more depressable button members 29 positioned abovethe circuit board 22 for enabling selective contact with the circuitboard 22. The one or more depressable button members 29 include adepressable button member for performing cutting with the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation 10 and a depressable buttonmember for performing coagulation with the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation 10.

A vacuum tube 15 may be connected to the second end 16 of hollow tubularhandpiece member 12 or alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, a vacuumtube 15 may be connected to a swivel member 30, which may comprise partof electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 10, where swivel member 30 is in turnconnected to the second end 16 of hollow tubular handpiece member 12.Swivel member 30 may have a lip member 32 positioned about itscircumference. Swivel member 30 is connected to the second end 16 ofhollow tubular handpiece member 12 such that electrical cord 26 passesthrough it and into the vacuum tube 15 such that swivel member 30 iscapable of swiveling or rotating about an inner or outer circumferenceof the hollow tubular handpiece member 12 near the second end 16 of thehollow tubular handpiece member 12. Electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 10may further include a cover member 27 that covers the circuit board 22and the planar platform 18. Cover member 27 may also retail depressablebutton members 29.

Electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation 10 may alsoinclude an insulator 50 or an insulating material that covers an area ofthe circuit board 22 where one or more of the insulated wires 28 areconnected to the circuit board 22. Further, the insulator or insulatingmaterial may be used to cover any and/or all connections to the circuitboard 22 after encapsulating the circuit board 22 with the heat shrinksleeve 23. In addition, prior to encapsulating the circuit board withthe heat shrink sleeve 23, a protective layer 76 (See FIG. 17), such asa polyester film or plastic sheet, may be used to cover the circuitboard 22. Electrode 20 of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 10 mayalso include an insulation sleeve member 52 that covers at least aportion of the electrode 20.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hollow tubular handpiece member 12and planar platform 18 of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation 10 shown in FIG. 1. Planar member18 may include a recessed area 19 which retains circuit board 22. Planarmember 18 may also include one or more channels 21 for retaining one ormore of the insulated wires 28 within the planar platform 18 before theyare wrapped within the electrical cord 26 to enable connection of thecircuit board 22 to an energy source (not shown). The one or moreinsulated wires 28 may include at least three insulated wires with oneof the insulated wires being grounded and the other insulated wiresbeing connected to portions of the circuit board that function toprovide cutting and coagulation, respectively.

Planar member 18 includes a first opening 36 located near the first end14 of hollow tubular handpiece member 12 that traverses through theplanar platform 18 and into the interior of hollow tubular handpiecemember 12 for enabling at least one wire 24, which connects the circuitboard 22 to the electrode 20, to pass therethough. Planar member 18 alsoincludes a second opening 38 located near the second end 16 of hollowtubular handpiece member 12 that traverses through the planar platform18 and into the interior of hollow tubular handpiece member 12 forenabling the electrical cord 26, which contains one or more insulatedwires 28 that connect the circuit board to an energy source, to passtherethrough. As shown in FIG. 4, planar platform 18 may be located on atop exterior surface of hollow tubular handpiece member 12 but it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that different locations ofthe planar member in relation to the hollow tubular handpiece member arepossible that will still result in providing increased efficiency forsmoke evacuation when operating the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 10.As further shown in FIG. 4, planar platform 18 may comprise arectangular shape and recessed area 19 of planar platform 18 may alsocomprise a rectangular shape.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hollow tubularhandpiece member 12 and planar platform 18 of the exemplary embodimentof the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation 10 shown inFIG. 4. The recessed area 19 of planar member 18 on top of hollowtubular handpiece member 12 can be seen. First and second openings 36,38 in planar member 18 that traverse the planar member 18 and the hollowtubular handpiece member 12 so that they access the interior of hollowtubular handpiece member 12 are also shown. A top plan view of thehollow tubular handpiece member 12 and planar platform 18 of theexemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smokeevacuation 10 shown in FIG. 4 is depicted in FIG. 5. Channels 21 inplanar platform 18 previously described with reference to FIG. 4 areshown along with first and second openings 36, 38 in planar platform 18.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 6 andshows the channels 21 contained in the planar platform 18 located on topof hollow tubular handpiece member 12. Hollow tubular handpiece member12 and planar platform 18, along with all of the other featuresdescribed above with reference to planar platform 18 that may beincluded in planar platform 18, may be formed from a single moldedpiece. Cover member 27 shown in FIG. 1 may be separately formed,including by molding, and then positioned and tightly secured over thecircuit board 22 and planar platform 18 once the circuit board 22 andits connections to other elements such as wire member 24 and insulatedwire members 28) have been properly made and positioned. Cover member 27may be secured to planar platform 18 an/or hollow tubular handpiecemember 12 by welding of thermoplastic materials. FIG. 8 is a crosssectional view taken along line F-F of FIG. 6 and FIG. 9 is across-sectional vie taken along line B-B of FIG. 6.

A perspective view of the nozzle member 34 of the exemplary embodimentof the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation 10 shown inFIG. 1 is depicted in FIG. 10. Nozzle member 34 includes a first hollowtubular member 36, a second hollow tubular member 38 having a smallerdiameter than the first hollow tubular member 36, and a rib member 40connecting the first hollow tubular member 36 to the second hollowtubular member 38 such that the second hollow tubular member 38 ispositioned/located completely outside of first hollow tubular member 36.Second hollow tubular member 38 of nozzle member 34 does not conic inany contact with first hollow tubular member 36 of nozzle member 34which can be better seen in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a side plan view of thenozzle member 34 of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil 10 with smoke evacuation shown in FIG. 10 and clearlyshows an empty space 37 between first hollow tubular member 36 andsecond hollow tubular member 38.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle member 34 of theexemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smokeevacuation 10 of the present invention taken along line A-A of FIG. 11and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle member 34 of theexemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smokeevacuation 10 of the present invention taken along B-B of FIG. 11. Asmore clearly shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, second hollow tubular member 38may include a slit 39 located along its length to facilitate seating andretention of the electrode 20. The rib member 40 of the nozzle member 34may have a generally three dimensional rectangular shape having arounded edge 42 that conforms to the interior circumference of thehollow tubular handpiece member 12 and that fits adjacent to theinterior of the first end 14 of the hollow tubular handpiece member 12.As clearly shown in FIG. 13, the rounded edge 42 of the generallytriangular shaped rib member 40 has a length that is longer than thediameter of the second hollow tubular member 38 of the nozzle member 34.The rib member 40 of the <nozzle member 34 may also include a slot 43that is in communication with an interior of the second hollow tubularmember 38 and that retains a conductive member 44 (See FIG. 2) which isconnected to the at least one wire 24 of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil 10 that is connected to the circuit board 22. Theelectrode 20 of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 10 is seated withinthe second hollow tubular member 38 of the nozzle member 34.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the circuit board 22 of the exemplaryembodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation10 of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1 shown with a heatshrinkable plastic sleeve 23 that has been heat shrunk to conform to thecircuit board 22. FIG. 15 is a plan view of the circuit 60 contained onthe circuit board 22 of the exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgeryhandpiece pencil with smoke evacuation 10 of the present invention shownin FIG. 14. As can be seen in FIG. 15, a first portion 62 of circuit 60provides for cutting using the electrosurgery handpiece pencil 10 of thepresent invention, a second portion 64 of the circuit 60 provides forcoagulation using the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 10 of the presentinvention, and a third portion 66 of the circuit 60 enables grounding.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of an area of the circuit board 22 shown inFIG. 14 which shows the metal dome members 70 and the spacer 72 that arepositioned over a portion of the circuit 60 that correlates to thecutting and coagulation functions of the circuit 60. FIG. 17 is across-sectional view of a portion of the circuit board 22 that includesone of the metal dome members 70 prior to the circuit board beingencapsulated with a heat shrinkable sleeve 23. The circuit 60 is printedonto the substrate 74 which may comprise a laminate, for example. Metaldome members 70 are positioned over metal circles 67, 69 of circuit 60(See FIG. 15) that correspond to cutting and coagulation, respectively.Spacer 72 is positioned over the parts of the circuit 60 that surroundthe metal circles 67, 69 and then a protective layer 76 comprising apolyester film or plastic sheet, for example, is positioned over themetal dome members 70 and spacer 72. A heat shrink sleeve 23 is thenpositioned over this combination of materials on the circuit board 22and a heat source is then used to heat the heat shrink sleeve 23 untilit shrinks to tit the circuit board 22.

The exemplary embodiment of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil withsmoke evacuation 10 of the present invention shown and described withreference to FIGS. 1-17 enables use of the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil 10 at high frequency ratings without insulationbreakdown and provides for increased efficiency of smoke evacuationduring cutting and/or coagulation. Covering the circuit board with aheat shrinkable plastic sleeve and heating the heat shrinkable plasticsleeve until it conforms to the circuit hoard enables use of theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil at high frequencies without insulationbreakdown. Further covering any and/or all electrical connections to thecircuit board with a nonconductive insulating material or insulatorafter encapsulating the circuit board with the heat shrinkable plasticsleeve further supports use of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil athigh frequencies without insulation breakdown. In addition, furthercovering the circuit board with a protective layer, such as a polyesterfilm or plastic sheet, for example, prior to encapsulating the circuitboard with the heat shrinkable plastic sleeve, further supports the useof the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil at high frequencies withoutinsulation breakdown. Including the nozzle member described above in theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil 10 assists in providing increasedefficiency of smoke evacuation with minimal obstruction during cuttingauthor coagulation using the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smokeevacuation 10. Further providing first and second openings in the planarplatform of the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil 10 of the presentinvention at certain locations on the planar platform also assists inproviding increased efficiency of smoke evacuation with minimalobstruction during cutting and/or coagulation using the electrosurgeryhandpiece/pencil of the present invention by limiting exposure of theelectrical components and connections required for operating theelectrosurgery handpiece pencil to the interior of the hollow tubularhandpiece member through which smoke and debris must pass duringevacuation. Accordingly, since different features/elements of theelectrosurgery handpiece/pencil with smoke evacuation 10 supportdifferent improvements to the electrosurgery handpiece/pencil, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that additional exemplaryembodiments of the invention may include just one or more of thedifferent features/elements described above that support theimprovements.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the inventionherein shows various exemplary embodiments of the invention. Theseexemplary embodiments and modes are described in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following disclosure is intended toteach both the implementation of the exemplary embodiments and modes andany equivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to thosereasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included examples arenon-limiting illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, whichsimilarly avail themselves to any equivalent modes or embodiments thatare known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art.

Other combinations and/or modifications of structures, arrangements,applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used inthe practice of the instant invention, in addition to those notspecifically recited, can be varied or otherwise particularly adapted tospecific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters,or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of theinstant invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure.

Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's intent that the wordsand phrases in the specification and the claims be given the commonlyaccepted generic meaning or an ordinary and accustomed meaning used bythose of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. In the instance wherethese meanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification andthe claims should be given the broadest possible, generic meaning. Ifany other special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, thespecification will clearly state and define the special meaning.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An electrosurgery pencil comprising: ahollow tubular handpiece member having a first end and a second end; aplanar platform located near a top of the hollow tubular handpiecemember having a first opening traversing through the planar platform andinto an interior of the hollow tubular handpiece member where the firstopening is located near the first end of the hollow tubular handpiecemember; an electrode positioned within the first end of the hollowtubular handpiece member; a circuit board seated on said planarplatform; at least one wire passing through the first opening in theplanar platform for connecting the circuit board to the electrode; anelectrical cord containing one or more insulated wires for connectingsaid circuit board to an energy source; and one or more depressablebutton members positioned above said circuit board for enablingselective contact with said circuit board.
 2. The electrosurgery pencilof claim 1 further comprising a cover member that covers the circuitboard and the planar platform.
 3. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 1further comprising a swivel member connected to the second end of thehollow tubular member such that the electrical cord passes therethrough.4. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 1 wherein said planar platformcomprises a rectangular shape and has a recessed area.
 5. Theelectrosurgery pencil of claim 1 wherein the planar platform comprisesone or more channels for retaining said one or more insulated wireswithin the planar platform.
 6. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 1further comprising a nozzle member for retaining said electrode whichfits within an interior of the first end of the hollow tubular handpiecemember.
 7. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 1 further comprising asecond opening traversing through said planar platform and into theinterior of said hollow tubular handpiece member wherein said secondopening is located near the second end of the hollow tubular handpiecemember for enabling said electrical cord to pass therethrough.
 8. Theelectrosurgery pencil of claim 1 wherein said one or more insulatedwires comprises at least three insulated wires where one of theinsulated wires is grounded.
 9. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 1wherein said one or more depressable button members comprise adepressable button member for performing cutting and a depressablebutton member for performing coagulation.
 10. The electrosurgery pencilof claim 1 wherein said circuit board is contained within a heatshrinkable plastic sleeve that has been heat shrunk to conform to thecircuit board.
 11. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 10 wherein a topof the circuit board is covered with a protective layer located betweenthe circuit board and the heat shrinkable plastic sleeve and wherein altelectrical connections to the circuit board are covered with a separatenonconductive insulating material.
 12. An electrosurgery pencilcomprising: a hollow tubular handpiece member having a first end and asecond end; a planar platform located near a top of the hollow tubularhandpiece member having oppositely disposed first and second openingstherethrough which each extend it to an interior of the hollow tubularhandpiece member; a nozzle member connected to an interior of the firstend of the hollow tubular handpiece member; an electrode positionedwithin at least a portion of of said nozzle member; a circuit boardseated on said planar platform; at least one wire for connecting thecircuit board to the electrode wherein said at least one wire passesthrough the first or second opening in the planar platform; anelectrical cord containing one or more insulated wires for connectingsaid circuit board to an energy source; and one or more depressablebutton members positioned above said circuit board for enablingselective contact with said circuit board.
 13. The electrosurgery pencilof claim 12 further comprising a cover member that covers the circuitboard and the planar platform.
 14. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 12further comprising a swivel member connected to the second end of thehollow tubular member such that the electrical cord passes therethrough.15. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 12 wherein said planar platformincludes a recessed area.
 16. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 12wherein the planar platform comprises one or more channels for retainingsaid one or more insulated wires within the planar platform.
 17. Theelectrosurgery pencil of claim 12 wherein said one or more insulatedwires comprises at least three insulated wires where one of theinsulated wires is grounded.
 18. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 12wherein said one or more depressable button members comprise adepressable button member for performing cutting and a depressablebutton member for performing coagulation.
 19. The electrosurgery pencilof claim 12 wherein said circuit board is contained within a heatshrinkable plastic sleeve that has been heat shrunk to conform to thecircuit board.
 20. The electrosurgery pencil of claim 19 wherein a topof the circuit board is covered with a protective layer located betweenthe circuit board and the heat shrinkable plastic sleeve and wherein allelectrical connections to the circuit board are covered with a separatenonconductive insulating material.